Process and apparatus for treating solutions to recover and coat solid particles



July 24, 1951 D. E. MARSHALL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOLUTIONS TO RECOVER AND COAT SOLID PARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1945 INVENTOR' 17011414 6. Mars/tall ATTORNEY July 24, 1951 D. E. MARSHALL 2,561,392

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOLUTIONS TO RECOVER AND COAT SOLID PARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1945 ATTORNEY July 24, 1951 D. E. MARSHALL 2,561,393

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOLUTIONS TO RECOVER AND COAT SOLID PARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 11, 1945 INVENTOR g L ATTORNEY Patented July 24, 1951 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOLUTIONS TO RECOVER AND COAT SOLID PARTICLES Donald E. Marshall, Summit, N. J.

Application August'll, 1945, Serial NCIL610312 Claims. I

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating. materials, such as detergent mixtures, milk, fruit juices, and chemical solutions in such a way as to produce solidparticles ofv nuclei, and then apply one or more-thin layers of the same or otherso'lid materials to said nuclei by spraying thereon liquids which carry solid materials and removing the liquids as vapors thus forming dense uniform beads.

Beads or pellets of different sorts of material such as chemicals and dehydrated foods can be enclosed in protecting coatings or layers, and ordinary powdered detergents can be shaped into the form of dense beads in accordance with this invention.

Beads or pellets offer many advantages over the ordinary powdered form of chemicals or dehydrated foods. Reconstituting into liquids is improved, as the beads do not present surface tension-solubility trouble, and can be made heavy enough to sink in the liquid.

Detergents in dense bead form save packaging cost, are dust-free, easy to pour or measure, and are favorable for going. in solution without attaching to clothes.

With this invention fertilizers and insecticides can be processed into bead form, instead of being" in the form of dust, so that they can be put into the ground with drills in close proximity to seeds without waste and in controlled amounts.

"Seeds themselves can be coated with suitable material to increase their size to a bead that can be drilled andv spaced when seeded toavoid crowding and later thinning out of plants. Since the coating is applied at low temperature it is not harmful to the seed.

Prepared breakfast cereals can be ground, formulated, pre-cooked and then spray-dried and toasted in bead form ready for packaging.

Milk, soup, coffee solutions, fruit juices, and vegetable juices can be rapidly dehydrated in accordance with this invention by removing moisture therefrom at low temperature and low pressure to preserve flavors and in such a way that dense beads having soluble protective shells are formed that are distinctive and are less liable to deteriorate.

Beads of materials can be developed in such a way as to make finished products of special characteristics not possible in powdered. form. For instance, a heavy-duty laundry bead can be formed with a nucleus of unbleached-fat soap, coated with solid caustic in the rig-ht proportion toneutralize the acidity of the soiled-clothes, followed by a coating of bleached-fat neutral soap to serve as a protective coating over the caustic and to give-a white finished product. In the same manner, a layer-of dispersing agent can be incorporated in the bead which otherwise might lessen its: sudsing" property.

Many chemical processes or. reactions can be carried out in accordance with this invention. Difficult reactions, such as the saponification of gl'ycerides-can be causedto take place rapidly by atomizing the proper preparations of fats and caustics anddepositing the atomized. mixture on the'surfaces of nuclei, such as solid soap particles. In this'way, and at the proper temperature; the desired chemical reaction is: caused to take place quickly. Also, excess water can bereduced.

Also, chemical reactions, such as re-esterification of fats with methanol to separate g'lycerine, followedby saponification of the methyl ester and removal of the. alcohol that is to be recovered, can be carried out very advantageously in accordance with this invention, since the reaction isrca'used toxtake place in a closed chamber and: isv so controlled that the reaction goes to completeness, and a beaded form of reaction on these surfaces.

Also, this new liquid layer together with the temperature which causes softening of the nuclei prepares the surface of the head for the adherence of accompanying dust. These adhered dust particles and a newly dried: liquid layer can be: further pressed to form thebead surf-ace by the impact of a stream ofsolid particles against a reflecting surface and. impact of reflected stream-of solid particles against the aerated bed of solid particles itself in a circulating spray chamber.

A massv of the material under treatment can berecycled in such a way that short travel of the material being formed takes place and heating and spraying is caused to take place without clogging the apparatus. Freshly sprayed mate- :rialcan be tumbled and pressed by impact into beads which increase in size each time they are sprayed.

The material being treated can be spread upon a revolving surface to cause uniform spreading by centrifugal force as the material is being sprayed. Also, an aeration-surface and a chamber through which drying gas can be introduced are provided. In this way moisture is removed with minimum entrainment of solid particles. Also tumbling and spinning assists bead forma tion.

Large amounts of drying gas can be brought into intimate contact with circulating material in spraying and drying chambers at low pressure. This gas can be passed successively through a bed of material, a sheet of material and a spray of liquid, to remove moisture with out serious entrainment of solid particles. This gas also keeps the material fluidized.

A downward delivery duct from the spray chamber is provided for removing freshly sprayed and dried material. This duct is jacketed to keep optimum surface temperature so that it will not clog or foul. A loose-fitting revolvable helix agitator is placed in it to assist and regulate the downward movement of the freshly sprayed a material to a conveying zone.

By aerating this delivery duct and mass of solid particles and restricting its inlet, an elutriator effect can be maintained which will allow beads of only a certain size and weight to enter the delivery duct. Lighter and smaller particles that are prevented from leaving the spray chamber by this air stream are recycled and resprayed until they are large enough to emerge.

Provision is made for withdrawing only a portion of the recycled material after spraying it, in order to deliver it to the evaporating chamber while withdrawing a portion at the evaporating chamber to remove finished beads. the proper size of chamber as well as the proper cycle of time for spraying and evaporating are provided regardless of rate of transfer or'withdrawal of material.

In this way,

Some separation of larger particles from smaller particles can be accomplished also by A mucilaginous liduid or hinder may be used when desired to aid the formation of beads of the solid material.

Some of the advantages which this invention has been found to possess are:

"1(a) Relatively small spray chamber can be usedwithout walls or sprays being fouled and with attending savings in heat loss, investment, operating labor and controlled sanitation.

Kb) Complete control over air flow,heat application, dust, reaction time, and product forma-' tion is obtained.

(a) Multiple, air and solids, passes are provided and high velocity of solids is produced, thus gaining high reaction rate with minimum air (12) Extreme atomization at sprays is-prod'uced for gaining constant rate reaction but yielding a uniformly beaded, dense and dust-free finished product.

(e) Levelling effect of recycling freshly sprayed small particles with multiple coated larger particles, and recycled portion of evaporated beads, raises permissable operating temperature to high level and high efiiciency.

(1) Evaporating chamber conditions are produced favorable to vacuum operation, due to complete dust control, small amount of air introduction, and opportunity to use radiant heat, all within a relatively small closed system.

(Q) Finished beads having structure derived from multiple sprayings of various liquids bearing solids are obtained.

(h) Simplicity of elutriator type classifier.

(2') Impact of laden air stream on a high speed spinning reflector is caused to press beads into dense uniform shape.

The invention'may be better understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1A is a side view partly insection, showing a portion of an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1B is a similar view, showing the remainder thereof;

Fig. 2 is a section showing a modification of some of the parts; and

Fig. 3 shows a third modification of the spraying and evaporating chambers.

In the drawings, reference character I indicates an upwardly extending spray .an'd' flash chamber that is open at its upper end. It has a conical bottom 2 that is provided with a jacket 3 which has an inlet l and an outlet 5 for temperature controlling or heating fluid.

A perforated cone 6 is spaced from the bottom 2 by means of its flange '1. Arsparger tube 8 is supported by a bracket 9 on the perforated cone 6. A cylinder [0- surrounds the sparger tube 8 and is provided at its bottom portion with downwardly and outwardly extending outlets l'l that pass through the cone 6. An inlet air pipe i2 for hot air passes intothe chamber l and enters the cylinder I0 near the bottom thereof. An outwardly and downwardly extending flange i3 is provided at the upper end of the cylinder ID. A revolvable rifiiing cone H has a flat bottom with a flange I5 extending within the flange Hi to provide a substantially closed joint. Perforations I6 are provided through the sloping surface' of the cone M. 'A cylindrical rim I1 is provided at the upper endof' the cone l4 and a circular flange [8 at the upper-end of the tube 8 provides a reasonably close fit with rim I'I.

A motor I9 drives the shaft 20 which is journalled in the walls of the chamber l and jacket 3 and passes through these walls. A gear 2! on the shaft 20 meshes with a circular or annular rack 22 that is attached tdth'e" bottom of the cone l4.

A reflecting device 23 for aparticle-laden air stream is anchored by rods'23" along the center line of the chamber I. It has a 'pelton cup surface 24 at its lower end. "'An' annular ring 25, carrying supports 25', is mounted on the device 23. Heaters 26 are carried by the supports.

Containers 30 and 30' are provided for the liquids such as solutions of difierent sorts, for example, that are to be treated with this apparatus. Pumps 3| and 3| are for passing the'liquids from the containers 30 and 30"through strainers 32 and 32'. Heat exchangers 33 and 33' are "from the lower end of the feeder 48. 56 is provided for controlling air from a source provided and the high pressure pumps 34 and" 34 force the liquids from the heat exchangers through pipe 35 and 35' to the nozzles 21. An air blower 36 (Fig. 1B) is provided and has an outlet pipe 31 extending therefrom into the lower end of an aerating tube or feeder 38 (Fig. 1A) which is sealed in the center of the conical bottom 2, and extends to the upper end of tube 8, leaving an annular space 39 between this feeder 38 and the perforated cone 6 and annular space 3 9 between it and tube 8.

A feeder 40 for particles of solid material is provided with a regulatable outlet 4| and an air lock 42. The outlet from this feeder extends into a hopper 43 which is provided with an inlet 44 from a source of compressed air, not shown. A slide valve 45 is provided near the bottom of the hopper 43 in'the outlet 46 which extends into the'pipe 31.

An outlet 41 with a valve 58 therein extendsfrom the lowest portion of the cone 2 into the upper end of a down feeder 48 which has a loosely fitted worm screw 49 therein, driven by a motor 50. This screw is provided with scraper pins 48a for keeping the inside of the feeder 48 clean. This feeder 48 is provided with a cooling jacket 5| having an inlet 52 and an outlet 53 for cooling fluid. An inlet 54 for air under pressure for fluidizing the solids in the feeder 48 is provided near the lower end of this feeder. A feed duct 55 for discharged solids to be further treated extends A valve of compressed air in the pipe 51 which feeds air into the pipe 55.

' An air fan driven by the motor 6| feeds hot air that is derived from the process as described later, through pipe 62 into the pipe 63 which is controlled by valves 64 and 65.

' An evaporating chamber 67 (Fig. 1B) is provided, having an outlet 68 at its upper portion and having a conical bottom 69. A cone I0 is spaced from the bottom 69 and is fixed in position with the pipe 55 extending through the apex of this cone and hermetically sealed thereto. The cone I0 is provided with a short cylindrical portion 14 at its upper end. A cone II having a central opening 'II' and perforations I2 and a curved rim I3 is provided, which rests on the cone I0. An adjustable bafiie ring 15 is provided in connection with the rim 14 of the cone I0 to vary the effective height of the cylindrical portion of this cone. This ring is adjustable by means of arms I6 and set screws 11.

A sparger tube 18 having a flaring lower end I9 and flanged upper end is provided and is supported by supports 8| resting on cone II, which keeps it in place. A tube 82 that is of greater diameter than tube I8 is provided around tube I8, leaving annular passageway 83 which the pipe of tube 63 enters. This tube 63 extends into the lower portion of the tube 62, as indicated, and an annular series of tubes 84 diverging outwardly in a downward direction provides passages from the lower portion of the tube 82 to the cone 10. An outwardly and downwardly turned flange 85 is provided at the upper end of the tube 83.

" A revolving container 86 having a conical perforated top portion 8'! and a solid fiat bottom and a circular side wall portion, is provided with a flange 88 at its middle portion surrounding an opening at the center of its bottom and extending within the flange 85. A toothed annular rack 89 is provided on the bottom of the container 86.

This rack isdriven bya gear90 on a shaft BI that is driven by the motor 92.

A reflecting and impinging device 93, aligned with the tube I8, is held in the center of the chamber 61 by means of supports. 94. This, device has a pelton cup end 95. Infra red heaters 96 are supported by downwardly and radially extending arms 91 that are attached to the device 93.

An outlet 98 extends from the conicalbottom 69 and has a valve 99 therein. A vibrating table I00 is provided for separating particles of different sizes from outlet 98. This table is suspended by straps IOI and is shaken or vibrated by means of the motor I02. A blower I03 is provided to pass cooled air from the air cooler I04 to the table I00. An air outlet I05 is provided from the table I00. An air supply inlet I06 is provided and has a damper I01. A heater I08 for the air is provided in the air outlet I05,. which is connected to the pipe 62.

Valved outlets I09 and H8 are provided from the table I00 for the particles of the desired size and for the particles that are to be re -treated to increase the size thereof, respectively. A cooler III is provided for the particles of proper size. It has an air-lock. or outlet II2 for withdrawing finished material when desired. It is also provided with an air inlet I I3 for compressed air, and with a filtered exhaust II4.

A cooler H6 is provided for particles that are to be re-treated. This cooler is also provided with an air-loch or outlet II! for these particles. Inlet II6 is provided for introducing compressed air into the cooler I I6 and a filtered exhaust I20 is provided for this cooler.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, parts like those shown in Fig. 1A are designated by the same reference characters with primes. A screw conveyor I20 which may be driven in any convenientway is provided in the feeder 38' and a screw conveyor I22 is provided in the tube. 8. The lower end of this conveyor is journalled in a bracket, as indicated at I23, and its upper end is journalled at I24 in a bracket I25 that is attached to the cone I4.

Another form of vspraying chamber is shown in Fig. 3. It does not have a revolving cone surface, such as the cone I4 in Fig. 1A.

In this modification a revolving reflector I2I is provided which is supported by struts I22 attached to spray chamber I" and driven by motor I23 and has a pelton surface I24. Sprayers extend into the chamber I".

The tube 8", chamber I0", outlets II", air inlet pipe I2", feeder tube 38", outlet 41", feeder 48 and worn: screw 49" correspond to those shown in Fig. 1A.

A perforated cone I26 having a central opening I21 and a downturned lip I28 along this central opening is supported a short distance above the conical bottom I29 of chamber I This design contemplates high velocity sparger action and the reflecting pelton cup I2I is mounted on a revolving shaft I22, driven at high speeds by a directly connected motor I23. The motor and pelton cup are supported by braces I3I and I32. The particle-laden air stream from sparger tube 8" and feed tube 38 impinges and is spun into a reflect umbrella-shaped down spill which forms a uniform and complete sheet of material sufficient to intercept all the freshly sprayed liquid from nozzles I25.

' Since plenum chamber I0" is completely sub- -merged in aerated bed of material carried at use at a; satin atan 'ae iior'aeeeia sprays which otherwiselmight become fouled.

In this arrangementit is contemplated j that jiifeedtube '38' will be operated as an air-veyor started to provide the proper air pressures and heat in the system. A solution from one of the icontainers 36 or 3D, or solutions from both are passed by one or both pumps 3|, 3| through strainers 32, 32 and heaters 33, 33 and by corjresp'onding pumps 34, 34 and spray noz zles 21 into chamber I, where the heaters 26 produce 'fiash-dried particles which fall upon the per- "forated surface I4 which is being revolved'by motor I9. The heated air currents from 'inlet 12 cause the remaining volatile material in the particles to vaporize and pass out of the top of the chamber I. The solid particles thereby produced pass downwardly along the perforated surface l4 while hot air from pipe If passes through theperforations I6 drying and aerating this layer of particles. The solid particles resultingtherefrom' then fall over the edge of cone "I4 and pass along the perforated surface 6 where the hot air, which is'intro'duced through pipe I2 and outlets II into the space between conical bottom 2 and perforated cone 6 and then through the perforations in cone 6 aerates and dries the beam accumulating particles. Hot air emerging from annular opening 39 develops an air-veyor in tube 8, and carries the accumulating particles up the space 39' between tubes 8 and 38. The particle-laden air stream impinges upon the surface 24 and is reflected to the perforated surface of cone I4, so that they are coated by the spray from nozzles 21. The larger particles on 'cone 6 j pass down through the opening 39 into the feeder The volatile material in these coatings is 'pvaporized, leaving shells of solid material on the solid particles to form a larger bead. The" shells build up each time the particles pass upwardly 'through tube, 8 and under sprays 21 until they become large enough to fall by gravity through the draft in annular space 39 and outlet 41 into the down feeder 48 where they are cooled. They also are fluidized in this feeder by cool air introduced under pressure at inlet 54. By adjusting this air and valve 58 in outlet 41 a desired size and weight of particle will be discharged from 'the spraying chamber I. o I A When it is desired to coat nuclei of solidparticles with coatings of solid material from solutions thereof, such particles are fed from hopper 43 through slide valve 45 and are carried by air in pipe 31 from blower 36 through pipe 38 and spill outwardly over flange I8 and pass along the perforated surface I6 of cone I4 where they are sprayed with the solution from sprayers 21. The coated nuclei flow to vortex'of chamber I and sparger action of air currents through pipe 38 carries out their recirculation through the annular space 39'. They pass into feeder 48 when they have become coated sufliciently to reach the proper size or weight. I

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the solution is introduced through sprayers I and coats the particles that are reflected from the 'revolving surface I24 in umbrella form. These particles are aerated and dried by hot air from pipe I2 passing through the perforations imcone 8 {12'6 fand'iaifeircii'eiilated" through the space between inlet 38', and tube 8" by 's'p'arger fwhereupon they pass into the conveyor 48".

The'pa'rticle's of larger sizes which reach'the -'feed'duct55 are'carried' by compressed air,'when valve' 56 open, up into chamber 61 by spilling 1 outwardly over the 'flange 80 against surface 95 "and then along perforations 81 in the upper 10 3 sloping surface of container 86 where volatile material is evaporated by heat from infrared lamps 96 andhot air from pipe 63. A vacuum maybe maintained in the outlet 68 in any convenient-way whennegative-pressure, low tern- 5 perature evaporation is required. In this" case air 's'up'ply'mus't be properly throttled by valves "65 and'56. In this evaporation chamber 61 where'boun'd moisture is to be removed from larger particles, g 'the time cycle may'need to be longer and the chamber larger than flashing and spraying chamber I in order to obtain the required holdin'g time. Otherwise the circulation of the'p'a'rticles by sparger action is like that already de- 'scribed;

By us'eof infra-red heaters, a glaze may be developed. by melting the surface of the beads and ironing action may be produced by impingement onthe'reflecting surface 95.

An additional grading is accomplishedin this 'finishing chamber by adjusting the ring 15 and the'speed of cone 86 so as to throw the larger beads into the hopper 69 and delivering them through pipe 99 to the vibrating table I90 where they are completely graded and cooled. The

particlesthat have been built up to the desired size are separated by this table and passed by outlet I09 to'the 'c'ooler III and are withdrawn for use through air-lock H2.

The graded out imperfect particles that need to be built up into larger sizes are passed from table I63 by outlet III] to the cooler H6 from which they are withdrawn through airlock-H1 and'passed by fan 36 and pipe 31, and aerating tube 36 to spill onto the perforated top of cone I4 where more solution is sprayed thereupon to be' evaporated and leave additional solid material thereon, thus increasing the size until it is of such size as to pass out through the outlet 41. In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the particles that are returned for retreatment are carried upwardly through feeder 38' by means of the screw conveyor I23 instead of being returned 'by the blower 36 of Fig. 13. Also, the conveyor I22 carries the particles upwardly to pass outwardly and along the perforated surface 16' of cone I4. The sprayers and heaters are provided as in- Fig. IA. The rest of the operation is as described in connection with the other figures. This mechani- 30 cal means for recirculation may be suited to certain rough chemicals where breakage is not objectionable. It is suitable in the evaporating chamber when the air-flow and the load on the exhaust system is to be minimized.

05 Many rearrangements of the apparatus described can be made to suit conditions. For instance, when the material that is discharged from chamber I is sufficiently well formed and graded the chamber 61 need not be used for further evaporation and grading.

Also, when needed, two successive spraying chambers like chamber I may be used followed by but one evaporating chamber like chamber 61.

' Theifeeding ducts'38 and 55 can be operated as air-veyorsc or as.- fluidized-solids columns. When actionu'ntil' they are built up to the desired's'ize,

the column in feeder 38 is fluidized, no trouble is encountered by surges of material because such surges will spill into the chamber l without clogging sparger recirculation. When operated as an air-veyor, the discharge end can be lowered into thedraft tubes 3, 18 todevelop an injector action to induce more recirculation of solid particles.

It has been found that down-feed arrangement of air ducts I l and 84 prevent stoppage, and that the space between perforated plate 6 and hopper 2 and between perforated .plate H and hopper it is self-clearing.

When particularly sticky chemicals are proc essed, mechanical cleaning device may be provided for cleaning the perforated plates. Also, the throat of sparger at its bottom and the openings 39 and H may be provided with a me chanical agitator, not shown, to clear lumps when needed.

However, the solid material in the flash chamber i need not be operated at elevated moistures or otherwise become sticky. The tremendous surface available and the air-sweep that is available remove the vapors without elevating the moisture content of the circulating bed of solid particles materially. Also, the temperature usually can be kept below the sticky non-free flowing point and still operate at higher efliciencies than spray drying.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for producing pelleted or beadshaped solids comprising: a chamber; means for aerating particles in the chamber; an upstanding sparger tube in said chamber for transferring solid particles; deflecting means above the upper portion or said tube for shaping said particles while coincidently deflecting them downwardly in the chamber; a rotatable conically-shaped member adjacent said deflecting means for receiving said solids; spray means above said member for spraying a solution on the particles passing to said rotatable member in order to coat the particles; means in thech'a'mber for heating the particles coincidently with the spraying of solution on the same; an inverted cone-shaped member in said chamber below the rotatable member for receiving coated particles from said rotatable member; an opening in the lower portion of the sparger tube adjacent the lower portion of the inverted member through which particles from the inverted member may be transferred to the sparger tube; means for removing volatile material from the chamber; exit means in the lower portion of the chamber for removing heavier solid particles from the lower member and r from the chamber; conduit means connected to said exit means and disposed outwardly of the chamber for transferring the particles withdrawn from the chamber to an evaporating chamber; an evaporating chamber for removing bound moisture from the particles; means for removing the particles from the evaporating chamber; means for classifying the particles; and conduit means for returning unclassified particles to the first-named chamber.

2. Apparatus for coating solid particles with successive layers of a solution containing solidiflable material to form pellets or beads comprising: a chamber; means for aerating particles in the chamber; an upstanding sparger tube in said chamber for transferring solid particles from a lower portion of the chamber to an intermediate portion; deflecting means above said tube for shaping said particles while coincidently deflecting them outwardly and downwardly in said 10 chamber; rotatable means adjacent said deflecting means for receiving and further shaping said particles; spray means above said rotatable means for spraying said solution on. the particles passing thereto in order to coat the particles; means in" the chamber for heating the particles coincidently with the spraying of solution on the same to solidify the coating thereon; and a delivery duct at the lower portion of the chamber 1 for withdrawing coated particles therefrom.

3. Apparatus for coating solid particles with successive layers of a solution containing solidifiable material to form pellets or beads comprising: a chamber; means for aerating particles in the chamber; an upstanding sparger tube in said chamber for transferring solid particles from a lower portion of the chamber to an intermediate portion; deflecting means above the upper portion of said tube for shapin said particles while coincidently deflecting downwardly in said chamber; a rotatable conically-shaped member adjacent said deflecting means for receiving and further shaping said particles; spray means above said rotatable member for spraying said solution on the particles passing to said rotatable member in order to coat the particles; means in the chamber for heating the particles coincidently with the spraying of solution on the same to solidify the coating thereon; an opening in the lower portion of the sparger tube through which particles from the lower portion of the chamber may be transferred for recirculation through said sparger tube; a delivery duct at the lower portion of the chamber for withdrawing solid particles therefrom; and means for aerating the particles in said duct to ermit passage therethrough of heavier particles.

4. Apparatus for producing pelleted solids comprising: a chamber; an upstanding sparger tube in said chamber for conducting solid particles.

therethrough; deflecting means above the upper portion of said tube for shaping said particles while coincidently deflecting them downwardly; a rotatable member below said deflecting means for receiving and further shaping said particles;

lower portion of the chamber may be transferred for recirculation through said sparger tube; and means for removing heavier coated particles from the lower portion of the chamber.

5. Apparatus for coating solid particles with successive layers of a solution containing solidiflable material to form pellets or beads comprising: a chamber; an upstanding sparger tube in said chamber for transferring solid particles from one portion of the chamber to a more elevated portion; means for supporting a bed of solid particles in said first portion of the chamber; means for aerating the particles of said bed; an opening in the lower portion of the sparger tube through which particles from the bed may be transferred for recirculation through said sparger tube; deflecting means above the upper portion of said tube for shaping said particles while coincident- 1y deflecting them outwardly and downwardly in said chamber; spray means for spraying said solution on the particles in order to coat the same; means in the chamber for heating the parthem outwardly and' in said chamber for transferring solid particles upwardly from one portion of the chamber to a more elevated portion; deflecting means above the upper end of said tube for shaping said particles while coincidently deflecting them outwardly and downwardly in the chamber; spray means for spraying said solution on the particles passing from said deflecting means in order to coat the particles; means for heating the particles coincidently with the aeration and coating of the same to solidify the coating thereon; and means for withdrawing solid particles from the chamber.

7. A continuous process of coating solid particles with one or more layers of solidmaterial to form pellets or beads which comprises aerating said solid particles in a chamber, passing the aerated particles from a lower portion of said chamber upwardly through a confined zone in said chamber, abruptly deflecting the particles issuing from said zone outwardly and downwardly, tumbling and spinning the deflected particles in the form of a revolving sheet, spraying a solution containing solidiflable material downwardly upon said revolving sheet of particles while coincidently applying heat thereto, thereby coating the particles, recirculating coated particles through said confined zone and deflecting them into the path of said solution being sprayed, and withdrawing heavier coated particles from the chamber.

8. A continuous process of coating solid particles with one or more layers of solid material to form pellets or beads which comprises aerating said solid particles in a chamber to form an aerated bed therein, passing the aerated particles from a lower portion of said bed upwardly through a confined zone in-said chamber, abruptly deflecting the particles issuing from said zone outwardly and downwardly towards said bed, spraying a solution containing solidiflable material downwardly upon said deflected particles to coat the same, applying heat to the particles coincidently with the spraying and aerating of the 12 same to solidify the coating thereon, recirculating coated particles through said confined zone and deflecting them intothe path of said solution being sprayed, and withdrawing heavier coated :particles from the chamber. I

9. A continuous process of coating solid particles with one or more layers of a solution containing solidiflable material to form pellets or beads which comprises: aeratin said particles in a chamber, passing the aerated particles from a lowerzportion of thechamber upwardly. through a confined zone in said chamber, deflecting the particles issuing from said zone outwardly and downwardly, spraying said solution downwardly upon the deflected particles while coincidently applying heat thereto, thereby coating the par ticles and solidifying the coating thereon, con-' tinuously recirculating coated particles through said confined zone and deflecting them into the path of said solution being sprayed, and continuously withdrawing heavier coated particles from the chamber.

10. A process of coating solid particles with one or more layers of solid material to form pellets or beads which comprises:

aerating said solid particles in a chamber, continuously passing the aerated particles .from a lower portion of said chamber upwardly through continuously a confined zone in said chamber, continuously deflecting the particles issuing from said zone downwardly in said chamber, continuouslyspraying a solution containing solidiflable material downwardly upon said deflected particles while coincidently applying heat thereto, thereby coating the particles, and continuously withdrawing heavier coated particles from the chamber.

DONALD E. MARSHALL. Y

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patentz UNITED STATES PATENTS 

